AN: This is my first Patriot fic. I've written in a few other sections, so I'm a little nervous posting this. Especially since I haven't written anything in several yrs. so I might be a tad rusty, but not that bad. I also want to thank Mercywriter for all her help)
This story line has been done so many times, but I thought why not, lol, and I'll be adding my own little twists to it! I would love to know what you guys think so please review, but try not to be to harsh!
I awoke with a start to the sound of gunfire. It was very deafening. Sounding as if it were in our own yard. I was fully awake at this point. Wrapping my shawl around me, since the night air was a bit chilly. I headed downstairs. My uncle was sitting on the front porch, rifle seated beside him. I joined him.
He smiled grimly at me, then turned back towards the fields. It was pitch black out. Not even the moon could be seen. The explosions from the cannons was defiantly unmistakable.
I had been sent to live here at my Uncle Ben's farm after my parent's were killed a month ago in a carriage accident. My father had no siblings, and my mother only had one older brother. I wasn't really close to my uncle or cousins, seeing that I'd never even met some of my younger cousins, and had only been around my uncle a few times.
We lived in Virginia, so visiting family was not an indulgence we were able to have very often. My father ran a farm a little bigger than my uncle's so we were taken care of money wise. We were by no means rich, but lived comfortably. My mother would write to her brother every few months to see how everyone was faring, and let him know the latest happenings at home.
Breaking from my thoughts, I tuned back to the battle that was taking place. No doubt we would soon be attending to many wounded soldiers.
As if reading my thoughts, "you should try to get back to sleep Nancy. It looks like we'll have a long day ahead of us."
I nodded stifling a yawn, as I made my way back to my room, finally drifting into a much needed sleep.
By dawn I woke and started to get ready for the day. I put on an older light blue dress, and found an apron to tie around it. I pulled my long chestnut hair back in a clip to keep out of the way.
Stepping out of my room, I could see Gabriel heading downstairs. "Shouldn't you be resting?" I said firmly pointing to his room.
"Father needs my help, and the fresh air will do me good," he stated matter of factly, and held his arm out as we made our way outside.
Gabriel and I were the same age. I can remember being maybe five or so, and him chasing me around the yard with a snake in hand. He was always the mischievous one.
Making our way outside I looked around at all the wounded. So many I thought sadly. There were soldiers from both sides. This would be a long day indeed.
"Do you need my help?" I asked my uncle who was tending to a British soldier who looked no more than sixteen.
"No, I'm just finished," he said after wrapping the bandages around his stomach. "If you could though, go around and give them water and see if they need anything."
"I'll be over here by the porch tending to the latest that have arrived if you should require my assistance."
"Ok," I went to find a bucket of water and started making my rounds.
I noticed my younger cousins were even wanting to help, so their father finally relented and would let them go get fresh rags, or sheets from the house so they would feel like they're taking part.
"Would you like some water?" I asked a British soldier who was staring out into space looking to be in pain.
He looked at me for a moment, "you look just like Martha," he smiled sadly as he took the water gratefully. Blood was matted in his hair and caked on his arms.
Wanting to make him feel at least some what better, "is Martha your wife?" I asked him kindly.
"Yes. I haven't seen her in almost two years," he said tearfully.
Not knowing what to say, I rubbed his hand gently and then went on to the many others.
After an hour or so, I was very tired and went to the porch to rest. Uncle Ben and Gabriel were helping one of the wounded when we saw some British soldiers coming up to the house.
A Lieutenant walked stiffly up the steps, you could tell he had been injured at some point. He went to my cousin who turned his back to him and my uncle didn't say anything so his eyes rested on me.
Walking up to me, "I want to thank you for the care of His Majesty's Soldiers," he said kindly and kissed the top of my hand.
"I'm Lieutenant Richards, and you are?" He introduced himself. "Nancy McAdams," I replied and he kissed my hand once more.
A little flustered, "would you like something cool to drink Lieutenant?" I asked cordially. Even though I was a Patriot, I would still help someone if they were hurt no matter what side they were fighting.
He smiled, "yes I would." I walked back outside with a glass and handed it to him as we went to sit at the other end of the porch.
I glanced at my uncle who didn't seem at all pleased for a British soldier conversing with his niece. I didn't see the harm it could do.
Trying to initiate a conversation, "you're father has quite an impressive farm," he admired, looking out at the immense fields.
Startled, I jerked my head in his direction, my eyes growing a little misty.
Noticing the quick change in my demeanor, "are you all right? Perhaps you should head back inside from this heat." He started to stand when I stopped him.
"No," I shook my head sadly. He looked a little confused and let me continue. "He, he's not my father," I choked.
Understanding quickly flooded his eyes, and he remained quiet to let me compose myself. "He's my uncle. My parents were killed in a carriage accident a month ago," I almost whispered.
I had been doing fine since I had arrived here, a little more than a month now, it least I thought I was. I didn't realize I could still be in shock, and hadn't really had time to grieve for them. There was much work to be done on a farm and I was also helping to care for my younger cousins.
"My condolences," he was saying but were interrupted by the sound of horses galloping towards the farm.
His eyes looked shocked for just a moment, "thank you for your hospitality," he sat the glass down and went to the yard.
I walked quickly to the rest of my family as the dragoons stood before us.
Here was the infamous leader, Colonel William Tavington, better known as the butcher for his brutal tactics. This was the moment we had been dreading, hearing rumors that he kills women and children and burns their homes.
He glanced around at the wounded and then at our family. There was no denying he was strikingly handsome, but in an evil way. His eyes were almost captivating, if they weren't so cold. They were blue, but I could of sworn I saw red. I could feel him giving me the once over, and felt as if I were going to be sick. Gabriel had his arm protectively on my back and his siblings, as I held on to Susan's hand.
"Fire the house and barns. Let it be known that if you harbor the enemy, you will loose your home," he stated coldly his steely eyes looking at Uncle Ben.
A soldier walked quickly to him, "dispatches sir," he handed them to the Colonel.
He read them, "who carried this," he demanded looking around as no one replied.
Lieutenant Richards, glanced worriedly at my family and me, as he repeated himself, "who carried this," he said loudly wanting to get to the bottom of it.
"I did sir," Gabriel stepped forward, as his father looked sorrowful at him.
"These people have nothing to do with it," he said urgently not wanting us to get hurt.
"Hang him, put his body on display," the Colonel smirked evilly.
"But these are a marked case," Uncle Ben interrupted as, The Butcher, looked rather amused by this.
"These are a marked case. You cannot hold him as a spy," he said trying to remain calm.
"Well we're not going to hold him. We're going to hang him," the Colonel stated as if it weren't a big deal.
"Colonel I," Uncle Ben tried again, when Gabriel intervened.
"Father," he whispered.
Colonel Tavington smiled knowingly. "Oh I see. He's your son."
"Colonel, by the rules of war," he was trying desperately to spare his son.
"The rules of war? Would you like a lesson sir in the rules of war?" He pointed his gun at him. "Or perhaps your children would," he aimed the gun towards us, and Uncle Ben quickly stepped in front, guarding us.
I held my cousins behind me as much as possible, trying not to be frightened, even though I was scared to death.
"No lesson is necessary," he said while trying to control the rage he was feeling.
"What of the Rebel wounded?" Lieutenant Richards said, trying to get the Colonel's focus away from my family.
"Kill them," his voice was cold.
I looked at the Lieutenant, who seemed defeated.
The British were bounding Gabriel's hands, getting ready to take him.
Thomas looked frantic, just like the rest of us were. "Father do something," he stared at Gabriel wanting to help his brother out of the grim situation.
"Be quiet," Uncle Ben pointed warningly at him not to try anything.
Looking at his father, he made that last minute decision. Running to his brother, he knocked one of the guards down. "Gabriel, run," he yelled.
"Thomas wait," Uncle Ben shouted as he ran towards his son, who had been shot.
My uncle looked in shock at the Colonel. "Stupid boy," he looked down at them as if they were dirt.
"Borden," he nodded at his subordinate and they finally turned and left.
We were all gathered around Thomas, not believing what had just occurred.
Shots were being fired, and the house was up in flames, but everything seemed a blur.
Lieutenant Richards looked at my cousins and me tearfully with remorse.
"All of you stay here," my uncle ran in to the house. He came back with his rifles and tomahawk. "Nathan, Samuel come with me. Nancy I want you to hide in the fields with the younger ones, until we return. If we're not here by nightfall, your to head to your Aunt Charlotte's," he demanded.
I nodded fearfully, and had never felt so helpless as I did when we watched them leave.
AN: Well what do you guys think? I think it's pretty good myself considering it's my first Patriot fic.
I always thought the Lieutenant deserved a little more screen time, and he didn't even have a name, lol. I was going to have his last name be Dan(if anyone got it:) from a certain movie, but decided against it lol.
I'll try and be a quick updater so you won't loose interest, but I'm not promising anything. It's going to be a Tav. romance:) but there might be a few twists, so you'll just have to wait and see!
